In Migraine Awareness Week, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has highlighted the devastating impact of this neurological condition on those affected and referred to research which highlights the disadvantages faced by people with migraine in the workplace.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter in this afternoon’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament when calling for a Welsh Government Statement on support for people with migraine in the workplace.
He said:
“This week is Migraine Awareness Week. Migraine is widely misunderstood as ‘just a headache’, yet it is a serious neurological condition causing debilitating pain, visual disturbances and nausea, affecting one in seven people in Wales - nearly half a million individuals.
“Research released this week by the Migraine Trust, 'Challenging Stigma: the urgent need to improve workplace support for people with migraine', highlights the shocking disadvantages faced by people with migraine in the workplace.
“Findings show that 60 per cent of employers would hesitate to hire a qualified candidate with migraine. Additionally, 15 per cent of sufferers have had to move from full-time to part-time work, and 19 per cent have been forced to leave employment entirely, at significant cost to the economy, a situation, I'm sure you'll agree, that is both sad and unnecessary.
“Straightforward, low-cost adaptations and a change in workplace culture can be transformative for many people with migraine and their ability to work.
“I urge all Members of the Senedd to support the Migraine Trust in raising awareness and improving understanding of this important issue, and I call for a Statement from the Welsh Government accordingly.
Responding, the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt MS, thanked Mr Isherwood for raising “a very important topic” and said the Welsh Government “recognise the debilitating effects of migraines”.
She added:
“We continue to work with the NHS to improve care services and access to services. It's Migraine Awareness Week, and it's important, and we've all heard how we should address this in the workplace as well. It's a chronic condition. We do have the all-Wales headache toolkit, which supports front-line clinical teams in diagnosing and planning care for people experiencing different types of headaches, including migraine. But also, as you drew attention to the workplace particularly, I will refer your question and your point to the Minister for Social Partnership in terms of our engagement with social partners.”